Apple Hospitality REIT (APLE) Risk Analysis

The Company generally must distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, subject to certain adjustments and excluding any net capital gain, in order for U.S. federal corporate income tax not to apply to earnings that it distributes. To the extent that the Company satisfies this distribution requirement but distributes less than 100% of its taxable income, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its undistributed taxable income. In addition, the Company will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that the Company pays out to its shareholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal tax laws. If there is an adjustment to any of the Company's taxable income or dividends-paid deductions, the Company could elect to use the deficiency dividend procedure in order to maintain the Company's REIT status. That deficiency dividend procedure could require the Company to make significant distributions to its shareholders and to pay significant interest to the IRS. From time to time, the Company may generate taxable income greater than its income for financial reporting purposes prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). In addition, differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash may occur. As a result, the Company may find it difficult or impossible to meet distribution requirements in certain circumstances. In particular, where the Company experiences differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash, the requirement to distribute a substantial portion of its taxable income could cause it to: (1) sell assets in unfavorable market conditions; (2) incur debt or issue additional equity on disadvantageous terms; (3) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions or capital expenditures or used for the repayment of debt; or (4) make a taxable distribution of its common shares as part of a distribution in which shareholders may elect to receive the Company's common shares or (subject to a limit measured as a percentage of the total distribution) cash, in order to comply with REIT requirements. These alternatives could increase the Company's costs or dilute its equity. In addition, because the REIT distribution requirement prevents the Company from retaining earnings, the Company generally will be required to refinance debt at its maturity with additional debt or equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder the Company's ability to grow, which could adversely affect the market price of its common shares.

To qualify as a REIT, the Company must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of its income, the nature and diversification of its assets, the amount it distributes to its shareholders and the ownership of its common shares. In order to meet these tests, the Company may be required to liquidate from its portfolio, or contribute to a TRS, otherwise attractive investments in order to maintain its qualification as a REIT. These actions could have the effect of reducing the Company's income and amounts available for distribution to its shareholders. In addition, the Company may be required to make distributions to shareholders at disadvantageous times or when the Company does not have funds readily available for distribution, and may be unable to pursue investments that would otherwise be advantageous to it in order to satisfy the source of income or asset diversification requirements for qualifying as a REIT. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder the Company's ability to make, and, in certain cases, maintain ownership of, certain attractive investments.

The Company's existing indebtedness, whether secured by mortgages on certain properties or unsecured, contains, and indebtedness that the Company may enter into in the future likely will contain, customary covenants that may restrict the Company's operations and limit its ability to enter into future indebtedness. In addition, the Company's ability to borrow under its unsecured credit facilities is subject to compliance with its financial and other covenants, including, among others, a minimum tangible net worth, maximum debt limits, minimum interest and fixed charge coverage ratios, and restrictions on certain investments. The Company's failure to comply with the covenants in its existing or future indebtedness, or its inability to make required principal and interest payments, could cause a default under the applicable debt agreement, which could result in increased interest rates and the acceleration of the debt, or require the Company to repay such debt with capital obtained from other sources, which may not be available to the Company or may only be available on unfavorable terms. If the Company defaults on its secured debt, lenders may take possession of the property or properties securing such debt. As a general policy, the Company seeks to obtain mortgages securing indebtedness which encumber only the particular property to which the indebtedness relates, but recourse on these loans may include all of its assets. If recourse on any loan incurred by the Company to acquire or refinance any particular property includes all of its assets, the equity in other properties could be reduced or eliminated through foreclosure on that loan. If a loan is secured by a mortgage on a single property, the Company could lose that property through foreclosure if it defaults on that loan. If the Company defaults under a loan, it is possible that it could become involved in litigation related to matters concerning the loan, and such litigation could result in significant costs for the Company. Additionally, defaulting under a loan may damage the Company's reputation as a borrower and may limit its ability to secure financing in the future.

The Company's wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs") (or subsidiaries thereof) operate substantially all of its hotels pursuant to franchise or license agreements with nationally recognized hotel brands. These franchise and license agreements contain specific standards for, and restrictions and limitations on, the operation and maintenance of the Company's hotels in order to maintain uniformity within the franchisor system. The Company has been and, in the future, may be required to incur costs to comply with these standards and these standards could potentially conflict with the Company's ability to create specific business plans tailored to each property and to each market. Failure to comply with these brand standards may result in monetary penalties or the termination of the applicable franchise or license agreement. In addition, as the Company's franchise and license agreements expire, the Company may not be able to renew them on favorable terms, or at all. If the Company were to lose or was unable to renew a franchise or license agreement, the Company would be required to re-brand or de-flag the hotel, which could result in a decline in the value of the hotel, the loss of marketing support and participation in guest loyalty programs, and harm to the Company's relationship with the franchisor, impeding the Company's ability to operate other hotels under the same brand. Additionally, the franchise and license agreements have provisions that could limit the Company's ability to sell or finance a hotel which could further affect the Company.